Demountable-rim wheel.



& Patented May 29,

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1 iliilllunmimm E. K, BAKER. EEMGUNTABLE RIM WHEEL. AFPLHIATION FILED DEC. 3!. 19:2.

Paiented May 29, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E. K. BAKER.

DEMOUNTABLE RIM WHEEL. APPLICATION FILED DEC- 31. m2.

1,227,990.- 4 Patented May 29,1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

E. K. BAKER. DEMQUNIABLE REM WHEEL. mmcmom mm age. 3:, i

A E a E. K. BAKER.

DEMOUNTABLE RIM WHEEL.

APPLICATION was 050.36. me.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

rrs Tears ERLE K. BAKER, or carcass, memos, assrcrron so nmvsaser. aria commas, or cnrcaso, simmers, a coarosa'rion or ILLINOIS.

menses.

$pccification of letters 1*atent,

Application ma December 21, leis. series at. teases.

To all whom it mayiooncern:

Be it known that 1, Earn K. BAKER, a citizen 'of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Demountable-Rim Wheels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in vehicle wheels andhas particular reference to improvements in Wheels of the demountable rim type.

The object of my invention is to simplify the construction, and reduce the cost of demountable rim Wheels; to provide a wheel of the above mentioned type wherein the rim shall be retained in true load carrying concentric conditionthough held by a fpinimum number of rim clamps.

A further object of my invention is to provide a tire rim and a complementary wheel, devices carried by the wheel for quickly and easily fastening the rim in place thereon, and the rim and wheel being constructed to provide rim supports between.

said devices, the complete structure being built up of a minimum number of substantial parts.

A further object of my invention is to provide a wheel structure of the kind speci fie'd in which the rim has a substantially con tinuous' vcircurnferential bearing and the wheeliis provided with a plurality of rim wodging devices spaced arbund the felly thereof.

My invention consists in a wheel and a complementary dcmountable; rim, opposed wedging clamps spaced 'aro d the periphery of the Wheel and adapts to be operated.

to wedgingl'y retain the rim npon'the wheel, and rim supports between tlte rim and said periphery and between the several clamps and cooperating therewith to retain the rim in substantially true concentric condition uponthewheel, and revent excessive distortion of-the rim by the clamps.

My invention also consists in a wire or.

metallic wheel having a metallic fixed rim of unique construction and a complementary demountable tire rim carried on the fixed rim and held thereon by a minimum number of opposed wedging clamps spaced around the fixed rim of the wheel, and tire rim supports between the tire rim and wheel which Patented may 29;

serve to support the tire rim at points (Elf-" cumferentially intermediate of the tire rim. clamps, thereby preventing abnormal-d s tortion ofthe tire rim by the clamps.

My invention also consists in a metallic wheel having a fixed rim provided with a centrally disposed circumferential rib .or

around the fixed rim of thewheel, saidlrib.

or ridge serving to support the tire rim at points circumferentially spaced between the clamps and thereby prevent the abnormal distortion thereof.

My invention also consists in a transversely split tire rim having means for fastening its ends togetheniri combination with l a wheel of the foregoing description and formed to accommodate said rim end fas-' tening means. I

My invention also consists in theseveral arrangements and combinations of parts and inthe features of construction by which the above and other objects are attained, and

' all as herein'afterclescribed and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. I

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, f orminglpart of this Specification, and in which: 7 t

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pneumatic tired wheel illustrating one embodiment of my invention.

Fig. Qis an enlarged detailed section of the wheel on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. i

Fig. 3 is a similar section on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig, i is a plan view of tlie inner surface of the metal hand which forms the telly of the wheel showing one of the rim clamping devices. I Fig. 5 is an enlarged view illustrating, in an exaggerated form, the rim distorting action of the rim clamps.

Fig. (3 is an enlarged detailed section through one of the rim clamping devices on the line 6 6 of Fig", 5.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of an'automohile the circumferential rim shown in the other views.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary side elevation of Fig. 9 is a similar view on the line 9-9 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of an automobile wheel similar to that shown in Fig. 1 excepwt that it is mostly oi. wood.

, lg. 11 is an enlarged section taken on the line 11--11 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a circumferential section on the line 12-12 of Fig. 10 showing the slot formed in the folly band.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged transverse section on the line 13-13 of Fig. 10.

wool wheel showing a construction similar to that illustrated in Fig. 7.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged transverse section on the line 1515 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a. side elevation of a metallic wheel showing another modification of my invention.

Fig. 17 is an enlarged section taken on the line 1.7-17 of Fig. 16.

Fig. 18 is a section taken in the plane of the wheel on the line 1S-*18 of Fig. 17.

Fig. 19 is an enlarged transverse section, of the wheel taken on the line 19-19 of Fig. 16.

Fig. 20 is a similar section taken on the line 20 20 of Fig. 16.

Fig. 21 is a transverse section through one of the doweling pins on the line 2121 of Fig. 16.

Fig. 22 is a'fragmeutary side elevation, partly in section, of a wheel showing a modified construction.

Fig. 23 is a plan view of theytirc rim illustrated in .l i showing the connecting .late.

Fig. 24 is a transverse section on the line 24.-24. of Fig. 22.

Fig. 25 is a vie'w similar to Fig. 22 showing another modification I my myention. lg. 26 is a plan vie: of the tire rim shown in Fig. 25 illustrating the manner of dowclin the ends of the rim together.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section of the rim and felly on the line 27-27 of Fi 26.

ly invention, provides a wheel which sat isfies the requirements not only from a manufacturing standpoint, but that from the user as well, for the reason that the wheel is not only capable of being manufactured at a low cost, but is so'strong, rigid and light that it is capable of remaining in substantially true condition for a great length of time even though subjected to seyerestrains produced by fast driving over rough countryroads. y

Furthermore, my wheel as a whole consists of but very few parts, either to be manufactured or to be manipulated in use, and, even though the rim is wedgingly supported at widely separated points, it is not thereby distorted out of its substantially true circular condition, for I support the rim at points substantially midway between the widely separated wedging devices and the rim thereby held both against distortion by the wcdging devices and against abnormal flexure from extreme road shocks.

I have, in the drawings, illustrated my invention as applied to the development of wheels known as metallic wheels and to those knownas wood wheels, and it will be understood that some of the features of my invention are equally applicable to both.

In my improved wheel I provide a wheel the periphery of which is but slightly less than the normal internal circumference. of the demountablc rim to be used therewith. The wheel thereforg. centers the rim when the rim is placed thereon. and thc rim can then be easily secured in true concentric condition upon the wheel. l also provide a relatively small nurnber ot' wcdgiug devices each of which comprises a pair of oppositely disposed wedges adapted to engage opposite edges of the rim. The opposed wedges are in each case connected by a clamping bolt which, when it is ,rotated in one direction, serves to force the .ivedges toward each other vand thus wedgingl'y clam p the rim upon the 'wheel.

It will bo u'nderstood at once that the rim being a metallic ring is capable of being forced or flexed outwardly by the wedges and. as the e wedges are widely sep arated on the fol v of the wheel, the "ii:- would naturally be distorted by the wedgethe portions of rimbetween the wedges being distorted inwardly when the wedges are tightened. But as the w reel is only slightly smaller than the rim, he latter is .held against the dcs'cr'bed distortion.

- For thiskpurpoh wheel periphery with a central y disposed circumferential rib or ridge; This centrally disposed rib-provides annuhfr slots or openiugs, both at the front and the rear of the wheel for the reception of the wedge clamps, and when the wedges are forced toward each other to secure the rim upon the wheel the rim is thereby deflected inwardly atpoints between the wedges and caused to find hearings upon the rib and be thereby braced and supported in position. Under some conditions I replace the centrally disposed rib by projections disposed upon the wheel and arranged intermediate of the wedging clamps and of such a radial depth that, taken toether, they provide a fixed rim which'is ut slightly less in effective diameter than the inner diameter of the rim.

As rims which are split or out apart at one point in their circumference. are We ticularly adapted for use in my invention, I have shown several methods of connecting e I preferably rovidethe I mana e the ends of the rims together and thenec'essary modifications of the wheel periphery for use therewith. Thus, to provide room for the plate rim and connecting means,-

whether long or short, I remove or displace a portion of the central rib or ridge on the wheel periphery. Furthermore, I sometimes make use of the connectin'g means as a driver to prevent the cirm cumfercntial displacement of the rim upon the wheel, and in such cases'provide co-acting shoulders on the rib. I preferably make the fixed felly out of-cold rolledqsheet metal stock, forming the same into a ring and.

iveldingthe ends together. and then forming the ,ringwin suitable rolls to produce the cross section desired. This method of manufacturing is relatively cheap. The parts can be produced rapidly, and accurately to size, and in the form of felly ring which I have illustrated the necessary holes or openings can be quickly produced by means of the ordinary punching machines. I am enabled, therefore, to produce wheels, embodying my invention at a mininnun lnanufaeturing cost.

I11 l igs. 1 to 9 inclusive, I have-shown the application of my invention to the production of metallic or wire wheels;

I In Figs. l0'to 15, inclusive, I have shown the invention as embodied in wood wheels;

Figs. 16 to 21, inclusive, illustrate-a modilied form of \vheel rim for wire or "metallic.

Figs. 22 to 27, inclusive, illustrate some of the detail constructions particularly useful'in connection with wood Wheels. I

The wheel illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, in

elusive, comprises a hub A, a metallic fixed 40 rim B and suitable wire spokes C, connectinn. the hub and fixed rim. These parts com prise the wheel proper, and it, is intended to carry a tire rim .D. In the form illustrated in the drawings this rim D is adapted 4:5 to carry a pneumatic tire E. The wheel proper carries a number of rim clamping devices F spaced around the periphery thereof.

shown it as being supplied with five of these clamping devices substantially equally and widely spaced around the wheel. Each of these rim clamping devicescomprises an abutment block f 'mounted upon the rear edge I) of the fixed rim and pro- 5 vided with an outer wedging surface f adapted to provide a wedging seat for the tire rim D. This abutment block is provided with a threaded o ening f arranged 1 transversely of the fixe rim and adapted 0 to receive the threaded-end of the clamping bolt f. This bolt carries at its opposite end a wcdging clamp f rotatably mounted thereon between the head fthereof and a circuin' ferential shoulder f Themuter surface 3'? 5 of tliisclampds formed similarly to the rotated to fpositions In the wheel illustrated, I have and the bolt when screwed into the threaded I opening f serves to clamp the rim D between the two opposite wedging surfaces of, p 5

the abutment block f and the wedge clamp As the rim clamping devices are widely separated, and as the tire rim is not an ab.- solutely rigid ring, but, on the other hand,

is somewhat flexible, these wedging devices tend to force the rinrradially outward when 7 the bolts are operated 'to' clamp the rim.:-' This serves to distort the rim to a certain; 7 extent, that is, the wedges tend to force the, rim outwardly at circumferentially sepa rated points and the portion of the rim be- 36 tween the wedges conversely tends to move inwardly and the rim is thus distorted ont of its true circumferential condition. I -have exaggerated the distortion in Fig. I prevent the wedges from causing any very 35 great distortion of the rim by providing rim supports between the two rims and between} the rim clamping devices. These rim supports preferably comprise a central circum v fer'e'ntial ribor ridge-b This rib b I make v9o slightlydess in external diameter than the; normal nternal diameter of the tire rim D, and consequently this rib or ridge does not 1 hinder the'easy mounting of the rim upon; a

the wheel proper. This rib being slightly less in diameter or circumference than" the inner diameter of the tire rim servesi ported not only upon the tapered rim seats formed by the opposed clamping (16 vices. but also at points substantially mi-dway between these devices; that is, upon the outer surfa e19 of the central rib b. It is" to be noted thdt when the clampin bolts fj are backed; outftthe rim' clampsg can be where,they. will not ,in-. terfere; with the fre removal of the tire. ri'm D. The rib b is 'cbnsiderably narrowerylio than the outer face of the fixed rim-and; consequently there are circumferential spaces 25* and 6 between the rim and -the,

wheel adapted to receive the inner ends of the opposed rim clamps. Fig. 2 shows the lie space between the inner surface of the tire rim and the outer surface of the rib b and: Fig. 3, which is a section taken substantially.z

midway between adjacent clamping devices,

shows these two parts in contact with eac other. The rear rim clamp f is shown' ing Fig. 2 as overlapping u on the rear edge;

of the fixed rim and I urther secure and;

hold this block in position by meansof rivets f which pass through suitablefeearsf-mfi. f provided upon the forward end oftliis 1:. block. I Fig. 6 illustrates a slightly modified form of fixed rim B Instead of the main part;

thereof being substantially parallel or cylintions and purposes, that is, to provide a centrally disposed surface slightly less in diameter than the inner diameter of the tire rim and capable of supportin the rim circumferentially between the c ampmg devices.

In Figs. 7 to 9 inclusive I have shown a slightly modified form of rim support. In

this instance the fixed rim B is straight or cylindrical in form and sufficiently less in external diameter than the internal -diameter of the tire rim to provide a circumferential space 5 for the reception of the inner ends of the opposed rim clamps f and. f". As shown in Fig. 9, the rim support comprises a plurality of projections b secured to and projecting radially from the fixed rim B adjacent to therearedge thereof, and similar projections b secured to and projecting from the tire rim transversely in line with the projections I) and spaced therefrom sailiciently so that when'the tire rim is in position upon the fixed rim the inner ends of these projections b will contact with the outer surface of the fixed rim. These pro jections b and 71 are arranged in pairs around the eriphery of the fixed rim and tire rim and spaced substantially midway between the clamping devices, as illustrated in'Fig. 7, and they serve to support the rim in opposition to-the distorting tendency of the clamps at points substantially midway between adjacent clamps. These projections thus provide a rim seat of slightly less di- .ameter than the inner diameter of the rim and adapted to coiiperate with the rim clamping devices to hold or maintain the tire rimin substantially its true circular condition, both as regards the strains incident to the clamping of the rim upon the wheel and those incident to actual use under load. The fixed rims B, B and B are all relatively heavy in cross sect ,on and are each of a form ada ted to be made by what is known as the iot process s distinguished from a process of making ti ed rims out of sheet metal, for the SQClllOIlS of said rims are such as cannot readily be formed by what is known as the cold rolled method.

It is to be understood that the fixed rims of the sections illustrated can as readily be applied to the production of wood wheels, and in Figs. 14 and 15 I have illustrated a wood wheel having projections b" and 1) similar to those shown in Figs. 7 and 9.

In wood wheels it IS )ossible to make the telly bands of considera 1y thinner material and form them up by the cold rolling rocess, and'in Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive, I ave illustrated such'a folly band. In this instance the folly band B is formed vrith 11.

central raised rib or ridge 6 similar to the central rib 7) illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3. This circumferential rib I) rovides the circumferential spaces 6 and 5 for the reception of the wedging rim clamps and also provides the rim supports circumferentially spaced between the rim wedging devices.

It should he understood that the rim D may be either a split rim or a non-split rim, depending on which form it is desired to use. In the drawings, I have shown this rim as being split or cut apart at one point (Z in its circumferenceand, as shown in Fig. 1, I connect the two rim ends (P and 11 together by means of a plate d which conforms to and with the inner periphery of the rim. The rim is provided with two inwardly projecting dowel pins d u on each. of its ends, and the plate is provi ed with suitable dowel openings d to receive these dowel pins. These dowel pins are long enough to project into suitable openings provided in the telly band, and the rim isthereby doweled to the fellyband. The felly band. the plate and the rim are provided with registering holes adapted to re ceive the tire valve stem 0. The valve stem is preferably arranged adjacent to the split in the rim. In the form of wheel illustrated in Fig. 1,'I provide the space for the connecting plate (1* by cutting away the rib or, v

ridge 5. In the form of fixedrim shown in Figs. '10 to 13 inclusive, I provide the space for the connecting plate 11 by cutting of? or cutting away the formed-up circum .fcrential rib I) and in doing so I provide an elongated slot b" in the folly band. This slot serves to receive the dowel pins d. The outer dowel pins b contact with the ends I) of the slot and thereby dowel the rim upon the wheel. As there are many advantages in the cold rolled fixed rim I have devised and illustrated a form of fixed rim B suitable for wire or metallic wheels and A made of slieet'metal. I have. illustrated this form of fixed'rim in Figs. 16 to :21, inclusive. The difficulty with fixed rims made up of sheet metal which can be cold rolled is that the fixed rim itself lacks rigidity. The fixed rim B however is very rigid as I have strengthened it by )roviding it with an in wardly projecting ange b" at one side and in positlonto serve as an abutment for the rim clamps. This makesa fixed rim which is adapted to withstand the strains to which rim clamps f do not extend to the forward edge of the fixed rim, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, but are secured to the rear portion thereof, the clampin bolts f finding bear-- ings at their forwar ends in the flange b which is provided withsuitable openings b? to receive the clamping bolts. Iii-this form. of'my invention, instead of cutting away; the circumferential rib b, to provide space 126: it is subjected'in use. In this form the rear Lee n 13," I deform the rib. forcing it back radially I this thin plate.

forthe rim connecting plate Z similar to the construction illustrated in Figs. to

into coincidence with the body of the folly, asclearly shown in Fig. 17, and I thereafter provide it with holes Z2 to receive the dowel pins d, as clearly shown in Fig. 18. This construction provides a fixed rim which is as strong at that portion where it receives the connecting plate as at other parts of its circumference.

InFigs. 22 to 24: I have shown a method of providing space in a wood wheel for the rim end connecting plate d Instead of cutting the central circumferential rib 72 entirely away, as shown in Figs. 11 to 13, I make the plate'd considerably thinner and reduce or cut away the rib to receive In Figs. 25 to 27 I have illustrated a modified form of connecting and doweling plate. In this form the connecting-plate d" is very much smaller and I dowel the ends of the rim together by means of a small dowel (Z which is received between the two ends of the rim, each end being provided with a small half-round opening cl which together form an opening adapted to receive the dowel pin a7.

At times when the rim is not in position on the wheel I retain this small plate (Z in its position by means of iiu Illll 6 against the inner face oi the rim,' the plate being provided with the opening 65 through whichthe valve stem e passes. The valve stem thus serves to secure the plate (Z to one end of the rim, and to prevent the sepa ration of the two ends of the rim I provide a second dowel pin d on the opposite end of the plate d, which is received within a suitable opening (5 provided in the end d 'of the rim. The plate d thus serves not only to carry the dowel pin (i which. prevents the relative transverse movement of the two ends of the rim but also serves to hold the two ends of the rim against circumferential separation.

' In mounting the tire rim upon the wheel. proper, the portion of the rim carrying the valve stem is first placed in position, the

valve stem being passed radially through the opening in the fixed rim. The rim end connecting plate is seated upon or against the fixed rim and then the balance of the I1I I1 1s swung into place, being centered. by

' the circumferential rib or the spacers. The

rim. is then secured on the wheel by 1nav nipiilating the relatively few wedging devices. It will now be clear that the rim can be quickly and easily removed from the wheel'by loosening the clamps and reversing the operation. 1

It will now be understood that by my invention I am enabled to provide a strong wheel, of the demountable rim type, of light Weight, and at low cost, and one in retaining the rim in substantially true cirrlunferential condition at all times.

As many modifications of my invention will readily suggest themselves to one-skilledin the art, I do not limit or confine my invention to the specific structure herein shown and described.

I claim:

1. A vehicle wheel comprising a wheel in combination with a plurality of pairs of opposed rim wedging clamps spaced around 8 the wheel periphery and adapted to force the rim outwardly at a plurality of points, and a rim support carried by .the wheel and extending circumferentially, intermediate of said pairs of clamps, to prevent excessive distortion of a rimf uponthe Wheel.

2. A vehicle wheel comprising a wheel in combination with a plurality of rim retaining devices carried by-and'spaced around the wheel. each thereof comprising two complementary opposed wedging clamps and a cooperating bolt, rim supporting means arranged between the rim and the wheel and intermediate of said clamps and adapted to prevent excessive distortion of a rim by the clamps.

3. A vehicle wheel comprising a wheel in combination with a plurality of opposed wedging rim clamps carried by and spaced around the wheel, a centrally disposed cir cumferential rib or ridge on the wheel of slightly less circumference than the inner circumference of the rim', and adapted to support a rim intermediate of the clamps.

4. A vehicle wheel comprising a Wheel proper having a fixed rim and a complementary demountable rim, said fixed rim be-' ing provided with a centrally disposed circun'iferential rib or ridge slightly smaller in diameter than the internal diameter of the rim, a plurality of wedging rim engaging devices spaced around the fixed rim and adapted to secure the demountable rim thereon, said rib serving to prevent the collapse of the ,demountable rim at points circumt'erentially between said wedging devices.

5. In a metallic vehicle wheel a sheet metal fixed rim substantially L-shaped in cross-section and provided on its outer periphery with a centrally disposed circumfen ential rib forming a rim seat.

6. In a vehicle wheel a sheet metal fixed rim having a centrally disposed circumferentially formed up rib providing a rim seat in combination with a tire rim having a cylindrical inner periphery whereby circumferential spaces are provided to receive rim clamps.

. 7. In a vehicle wheel a metallic fixed rim having a circumferential centrally raised. In testimony whereof, have hereunto set 1 1m seat, m combmetlon wlth e mm mm my].1and,th1s 24th day of December, 1912,m

thereon having an internal diameter slightly the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

greater than the external diameter of the ERLE K. BAKER. b rim seat and. a plurality of Wedging devices Witnesses:

carried by the wheel for remevably holding EDWARD F. WILSON,

the rim in place. M. SIMON. 

